Photographer lost thousands of dollars after flooding at Mellwood Art Center

Many business owners are trying to figure out if they should stay or move out.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Mellwood Art Center is home to many different small businesses and restaurants, including some Louisville staples. 

But over the weekend, a burst pipe led to flooding and now some of those businesses are having to shut their doors. 

According to the Louisville Fire Department, the fire protection system froze during the frigid weather. When it finally thawed, the pipe burst. Officials said crews were able to easily and quickly shut off the system, adding the damage was contained and minimal. But that wasn’t the case for everyone.

“It was coming down the walls, and there were inches of water on the floor everywhere touching everything,” Jessy Woodmansee said. Her photography studio is directly next to the staircase where the water was barreling down leaving inches of water inside her space.

“This is a water bubble, there is water behind this wall,” she said. “I just had a professional come out and look, he said everything in this wall needs to dry out.” 


The estimated damage to Woodmansee’s studio is $1,500 to $2,000. Currently, fans and humidifiers are helping dry out her floors and walls. 

“It was a very nice and functional studio but all the paper rolls got wet, a backdrop got wet,” she said. 

Her business was one of many that got water damage. A few doors down, a local studio theatre had a small portion of its ceiling collapse. The owner, who didn’t want to go on camera, showed WHAS11 debris scattered along her floor and mold that is starting to grow. She said she’s looking to move.

Both business owners said this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Woodmansee said although she isn’t surprised by the incident, she wishes it could be easier to stay.

“This could be such a cool space, and I hope someday it can be that space because I don’t want to leave, I want to be with the other artist to take photos,” she said.

WHAS11 reached out to Mellwood Art Center, which said it’s trying to address any tenant concerns as soon as possible. 

To book through Woodmansee’s photography studio, click here to see her Facebook page.

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